The best Chicago team-building exercises are ones that are fun, interactive and get coworkers excited-but where to start? Take a departure from the ordinary with fun team games, thrilling adventures and even a little competition. Your team will build rapport and learn to work together, all while having a great time. Here are a few ideas for team building activities in Chicago to get you started.

The Activity: Indoor skydiving at iFly Lincoln Park.Why They'll Love It: Even for team members who may not know each other very well, the thrill and excitement of skydiving can create an instant connection and give them something to talk about. Pair up team members so they can soar together and share in the exhilaration.Book It: Get the Party Package for 24 flights shared by up to 12 people, which even comes with 12 free video clips-perfect for sharing in your next company e-newsletter.

The Activity: Playing ping-pong at SPIN Chicago.Why They'll Love It: Coworkers can let loose while enjoying a friendly game of ping-pong. Take a break to socialize over drinks and casual food, from pizzas and burgers to upscale comfort dishes. Book It: Reserve a spot for your Chicago team-building event, and pick one of the food and beverage packages from the convenient catering menu.

The Activity: Competing in a ping-pong tournament at AceBounce.Why They'll Love It: Team members can tap into their competitive side with some fast-paced ping-pong action-and then refuel with expertly crafted cocktails and globally inspired dishes.Book It: Book a Chicago ping-pong party for an all-out fun experience with DJ music, drinks and food. Reserve The Parlor private room (with its own cocktail bar and dedicated bartender) or one of the two semi-private spaces. Up the ante with a Games Guru (think: game show announcer meets party planner) to run the show — perfect for a tournament-style event.

The Activity: Bowling and playing bocce at Pinstripes Chicago.Why They'll Love It: The elegant yet rustic vibe of this Italian bistro sets the scene for an upscale gathering, but the fun of bowling and bocce creates a relaxed setting to get to know coworkers. Book It:Reserve a bowling lane (up to eight people each) or bocce court (up to 10 people each), followed by a sit-down dinner in the bistro. Group packages make it easy to plan larger events combining games and food.

The Activity: Scoring at Whirlyball.Why They'll Love It: No matter their sports background or previous experience, everyone is on an even playing field in this innovative game, which combines basketball, wiffle ball and bumper cars.Book It:Reserve your Whirlyball court. The Chicago location has three courts, as well as 12 bowling lanes and a laser tag arena for even more game-time options. Book the private VIP space and relax on the rooftop terrace after the game.

Why They'll Love It: Team members can use their problem-solving skills-and imagination-while getting to know their teammates in these intense yet fun "escape rooms," featuring scenarios like saving the world from zombies. Book It: Take your pick from one of the four unique rooms, or book all four to host up to 24 people at once.

The Activity: Honing super-secret spy skills at EscapeHouse Chicago.Why They'll Love It: Coworkers will need to work together: not as themselves, but as secret agents. With two different top-secret missions, team members will learn how to work together in exciting role-play scenarios. Book It:Reserve your escape room for up to 10 people at a time.

The Activity: Solving clues and taking hilarious pictures with cityHUNT Chicago.Why They'll Love It: Part Chicago scavenger hunt, part role play, part city tour, these interactive adventures will have coworkers exploring Chicago, having fun and learning about each other in the process. Book It: Fill out a request form to book your Chicago hunt.